Mo Farah became the fastest marathon runner in British history as he produced a promising and gutsy performance to finish third in his second London Marathon.

A “knackered” Farah crossed the line in a time of 2:06:21, comfortably clear of Steve Jones’ 33-year-old British record of 2:07:13, despite two mix-ups with water bottles in which he said marathon staff were taking pictures rather than helping him find his drink.

The race was won by Eliud Kipchoge, the Olympic champion and the man considered by many to be the greatest marathon runner ever, in a time of 2:04:17.

After a stunning start, it had appeared for a while that Kipchoge may be in contention to break the marathon world record, but he was unable to maintain his speed over the final few miles in scorching conditions.

Farah, who finished in a disappointing 8th place on his London Marathon debut in 2014, delivered a much-improved performance on his return to the capital’s tarmac after three months of intensive training in Ethiopia.

Best London Marathon 2018 pictures: The runners, Royals and fancy dress

He had vowed to stick with the leaders, no matter the pace, and was true to his word as he remained with the leading pack for much of the race despite Kipchoge leading the contenders in a blistering start.

“They were going for world record pace,” Farah said. “So it was do or die. I went with it and hung on as much as I could. It was ridiculous.”

Mo Farah lies on the floor at the finish with exhaustionCredit: REUTERS

The 35 year-old is now fully focused on marathon running after retiring from a track career in which he won 10 world and Olympic titles, and this was an encouraging start to his full-time career over the longer distance.

The impressive time came despite Farah’s rhythm being disrupted by two mix-ups involving water bottles as he struggled to identify his drink on two separate occasions.

“The drinks stations were confusing,” he said. “The staff were helpful at the end but at the beginning they were trying to take a picture rather than giving me the drink.

“I was saying to the people on motorbikes to tell the staff to be a bit helpful instead of taking pictures. I wasn’t wasting energy, I just needed a drink. I had to get it right.”

Eliud Kipchoge crosses the finish line to winCredit: REUTERS

Paula Radcliffe, the wife of Farah’s new coach Gary Lough, said she had “never seen Farah look this tired before” as he crossed the finish line with a grimace on his face, before collapsing to the ground a few metres later.

Farah was pipped to second place by Tola Shura Kitata, who produced a personal best of 2:05:00, but the British racer will be enthused by a run in which he finished well clear of Kenenisa Bekele, the legendary Ethiopian who crossed the line in sixth.

Mary Keitany failed to challenge Paula Radcliffe’s 15-year-old world record as she faded out of contention before finishing in a disappointing fifth in the women’s race.

Radcliffe had said before the race that she believed her 2003 time of 2hr 15min 25secs was under real threat from the Kenyan, who had won the 2017 marathon in the second-fastest time in history.

Vivian Cheruiyot wins the women's raceCredit: REUTERS

And Keitany, 36, looked set to produce a genuine challenge after blitzing clear in a remarkably quick start to the race.

Which poor sod is going to tidy up afterwards?

WATER ALERT!

This just in from the organisers:

We are aware of reports that water stations at Miles 8-10 have run out of water. Lorries with our additional contingency supply are topping up other water stations on the route and mobile water stations are currently being despatched to provide runners with water.

Farah is knackered

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson on David Weir's win

"This is the strongest race we've had! David played an incredibly smart race, played it right tactically, in terms of wheelchair racing, it's a bit weird him sitting next to me cos I've known him since he was a kid but hes one of the best wheelchair racers ever."

They're so close!

Radcliffe on Farah

"You get to this point and you know you have a mile to go, you really appreciate that (the crowds). It's a very welcome sight. When a marathon runner gets to this point everyone expects to be tired but he's gritting his teeth and pushing his body as hard as he can."

Water fiasco

Kipchoge pulling away

He's gained about three/four metres on Kitata in second place. Is Kitata beginning to falter? Kipchoge is like a terminator robot, he doesn't look tired and just keeps on going. A grimace is starting to show on his face though...

And Farah is pushing himself. There's not as much bounce in the legs but he looks OK. He's still chasing the leaders.

Big cheers for Mo!

Kipchoge still leading

Women's race finishing times

VIVIAN CHERUIYOT (KEN) 02:18:31

BRIGID KOSGEI (KEN) 02:20:13

TADELECH BEKELE (ETH) 02:21:30

GLADYS CHERONO (KEN) 02:24:10

MARY KEITANY (KEN) 02:24:27

And for those interested in the progress of Great Britain's runners, Lily Partridge is about to finish her race and smash her personal best. That puts her in eighth place - she's the first British woman to finish today.

VIVIAN CHERUIYOT WINS THE WOMEN'S RACE!

600 metres to go for the women's race!

Is Farah getting tired?

Credit: REUTERS

Those legs look a little weary. Farah is 0:07 off the leader and his face is that of a man pushing himself to stay in this race. And here comes another water station - can he navigate the precarious acquisition of a bottle this time?!

Radcliffe on Farah's race

"At this stage of the race he won't be panicking, he'll be feeling strong. He's well aware that ahead of him Kitata is running a risk. Just focus on the road in front of you, when you're tired it's one foot in front of the other. Nothing complicated, just get your body through it."

Ethiopia and Kenya dominating the races

The top five in both men's and women's races are three from Ethiopia and seven from Kenya.

Mary Keitany is in a spot of bother though. "This is an athlete in trouble!" says the BBC guy. She's slowed down, looks like she may have pushed a little too hard too early and Vivian Cheruiyot is coming up behind.

MO FARAH WATER DISASTER

He's dropped his water bottle this time! What do they even teach you at marathon school? He's got the wrong bottle again, throws it to the floor and then gets his bottle. And again he's got distance to make up on the leaders!

Keitany update

DAVID WEIR WINS AGAIN!

david weir wins

As soon as they go round the final corner the turbo boosters come out and metaphorical flames come out the back of Weir's wheelchair. He absolutely flies to the lead and takes the race... for the eighth time!

It's a sprint finish in the men's wheelchair!

What the course looks like

Credit: BBC

Marcel Hug is leading the men's wheelchair race, Susannah Scaroni leads the women's wheelchair race, the men's race isn't clear as there are a bunch of them on the same time but in the women's, Mary Keitany is pulling away and is still running inside a world record time.

Temperature Watch

[opening theme music with lots of synth beeps and leading to big crescendo - end on splash cymbal]

According to the Met Office, the mercury had already reached 18C in St James’ Park by 10am, meaning today is on course to be the hottest Marathon ever.

The previous record temperatures were in 1996 and 2007 when the race was run with highs of 22C.

However there is also a chance of rain potentially bringing respite to sweltering runners later this afternoon.

Mark Wilson, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “We are up to 18C at the moment and that will continue to rise. By the time we get to lunch it will be 21C to 22C, which is very warm, and it could go higher by 1pm to 2pm.

“We are expecting a 23C maximum, and that would make this the warmest Marathon on record, and there is a slight chance it could go up to 24C.

“The sunshine will turn a bit hazier by about 2pm to 3pm, with the risk of a few showers. When the cloud comes it could reduced the temperature slightly, but only to around 20C, so it will probably be hard work for the runners.”

The men's race is quick!

Men's race has gone off at a crazy pace and in the women's, Mary Keitani is at world record pace now.

Mo Farah is running his own race, not being pulled into the world record chasers further ahead. There's every chance they exhaust themselves early on and he's torn between staying in contact just behind them or drifting behind to go at the speed he wants to.

"He'll be thinking 'I need to back off a little bit' but he needs to maintain eyesight with them," says Paula Radcliffe.

Bryony Gordon and Jada Sezer are on site!

This is brilliant

What it's like to run the London Marathon - carrying a fridge

I thoroughly recommend you give it a wee read. I have a fridge story. Until recently I lived in a Hackney flatshare with one small fridge between four people. It was not nice. I am in my 30s. Anyway, my next door neighbours put their ancient very tall fridge out on the street and I thought, 'this is it. This is my chance' and I said I'd take it off their hands.

Unfortunately I was on my own at the time and had to negotiate this monstrosity, which stood a good foot taller than me, down a narrow flight of stairs and into an even narrower corridor. All of this done in full view of a massive block of flats in the sun.

After incredible, near-super-human effort, I managed. Success!

The fridge was broken.

And so, here I was, on my own, in front of a watching block of flats, trying to heave a gigantic broken fridge up a narrow flight of stone steps in the sun. A low point in my adult life.

But the thought of carrying one on my back for an entire marathon is insane. Props to you, my friend.

The marathon safety instructions

These are the official (friendly) warnings for today's runners.

"It's very hot for this time of day. We're telling them to slow down, hydrate themselves and drain douse (pour water over your head and down your back), then in the spirit of London, pass it back to other runners to do the same.

"If you have fancy dress don't wear it or discard it along the route!"

Forrest Gump is running

Credit: BBC

"I last shaved on September the 14th 2016," says this lovely chap, who is running to raise money for an animal charity (sorry - I didn't write which one down in time!). The lady next to him says her mental health has improved dramatically since she started running all the time - it's true, it really does help.

Our own mental health running champion, Bryony Gordon, attests to it.

Bryony Gordon on why she's running the marathon for her mum (in her undies)

The pacemakers

The advantage of a pacemaker is that apparently they help you avoid running too fast from the start. Paula Radcliffe says the first mile is basically a freebie and you're allowed to go as fast as you want. Mary Keitany is absolutely going for it.

mary keitany

I wonder what happens if a pacemaker goes rogue and decides to destroy the marathon world record, finds that extra pace somewhere inside and nips on.

Men's wheelchair race

Elite women's race

AND THEY'RE OFF! GO GO GO!

pace makers

There are a bunch of men running alongside the Elite Women wearing black and white striped vests. Apparently these are 'pacemakers', who are there to assist the runners to try and run at the fastest speed they can. They want a world record, basically.

Kathrine Switzer is a bit of a hero

In 1967 she became the first woman to enter and complete the Boston Marathon, and wearing the same number she wore then, Kathrine Switzer is going to run the London Marathon. She's 71. I get bored (tired) after 2km, that is exceptional.

Credit: BBC

She was attacked halfway through the Boston Marathon as well by some mad sexist lunatic:

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

"My boyfriend decked the official, I ran on to finish. It changed millions of womens' lives!"

It's marathon day - is the mercury rising?

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of today's 2018 London Marathon.

First things first, the BIG question is: 'What's the weather like out there after the heatwave we've had?'

Well, warnings have been issued to runners taking part in the London Marathon due to the rising temperatures.

Today's race is expected to be the warmest on record with 23 degrees Celsius forecast, beating the previous high of 22.2 in 2007, although the mild dampness in the air and the possibility of light rain should help the runners.

Nevertheless, extra water, ice and showers are available to runners, while event organisers are urging all participants to prepare for the conditions accordingly.

Today's weather forecastCredit: BBC

Runners in fancy dress have been warned they may have to ditch their costumes in favour of traditional vest and shorts in order to get round the 26.2 mile course safely.

The mercury rising should not hinder the elite athletes, however.

Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, the winner in 2015 and 2016, said: "Everyone's worried about the weather but you are going to see a beautiful race on Sunday. When I train in Kenya the temperature is around 20 degrees."

Britain's Lily Partridge, of Aldershot, has been training near Alicante in Spain.

She added: "My last couple of long runs have been in temperatures of 26 or 27 degrees so I'm not worried."